A lawyer, First Baba Isa (FBI), has raised concerns over the alleged early-morning arrest of Cross River-based critic and activist, Denis Odama, describing the development as an attempt to silence criticism of the state government.
According to Isa, policemen allegedly sent from Calabar, following a petition purportedly written by the Governor’s aide, Ekpenyong Akiba, stormed the FESTAC Police Station at about 5am on Thursday and attempted to take Odama to an undisclosed location.
Isa said he was informed that the petition was not primarily about a controversial statement involving Governor Bassey Otu and a female Commissioner, as had been widely speculated, but rather about Odama’s repeated criticism of the administration and reminders of campaign promises he allegedly failed to fulfil.
He claimed that the government considers Odama’s persistent criticism and reminders as cyberbullying and harassment of the Governor.
The development comes a day after Isa publicly defended Odama over a controversial social media statement which had generated reactions across Cross River.
In his earlier statement, Isa argued that the expression used by Odama should be understood within the context of Nigerian street language and was not intended as a literal allegation of a sexual relationship involving the Governor and the Commissioner.
While describing the statement as disrespectful and inappropriate, the lawyer maintained that being offensive or annoying to a public official does not, by itself, make a person a criminal.
Isa further argued that the focus should be on the substance of Odama’s criticism of the Commissioner’s performance rather than the language used to express it.
He said that if the Commissioner is competent, the government should demonstrate her performance, while if there are concerns about her competence, the appropriate authorities should address them.
“Arresting a critic does not improve the performance of a Commissioner. And silencing criticism does not make a government more competent,” Isa stated.
He urged the government to deal with the issues raised by its critics instead of concentrating on what he described as “theatrics.”
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the exact contents of the petition or the legal basis for Odama’s reported detention were not immediately available.
The development is likely to generate further debate over the limits of political criticism, freedom of expression and the government’s response to outspoken critics in Cross River State.
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